Nihavend - Ottomon Classical Concert

Nihavend - an Ottoman Classical Music Concert

The Nihavend Ensemble perform Turkish Art Music

Newington Green, Sunday 15th June 7:00pm -

9:00pm. Tickets £7/£5 at the door or purchase online.

Nihavend is the only Turkish Art Music Turkish group in London. (Watch video of Nihavend performing.) Led by Cahit Baylav on violin, the group is twelve-strong, including Mehmet Can on the qanun (zither), Emre Yuksel on oud (lute), Munise Unver on ney (reed flute), Aysh Akgul on bendir (frame drum), and singers Ayse Bircan, Filiz Capar, Nergiz Martin, Sule Cinemre, Sevim Gorgu, Yasin Onemli, Songul Demiralp and Asuman Sumer who recently joined after a 20-year career in the State Turkish Music Ensemble in Istanbul.

The group perform all over London, but only in venues and concerts that they feel allow them to create the kind of environment Art Music is designed for.

Turkish Art Music developed around the Ottoman Court in Istanbul over many centuries. It reflects the cosmopolitan nature of the Ottoman Empire. As Cahit Baylav points out, “Art Music unifies people of different origin, both players and composers. For example there are Greek, Armenian and Jewish composers as well as Turkish bringing in their own influences- all melting and blending in what we now term as Turkish art Music.”

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